Christopher Ford
Practice Areas
Complex Commercial Litigation
Employment Litigation
General Litigation
Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation
Product Liability Litigation
Professional & Medical Malpractice Litigation
Estate Planning
Marital & Premarital Agreements
Probate & Estate Administration
Trust Administration
Experience
Chris was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. He attended Boulder High School, where he graduated Valedictorian. After graduating from college first in his class, Chris worked on public health projects in the San Francisco Bay area. He subsequently went to law school at Harvard Law School, where he graduated with honors. Following his graduation from law school in 1997, Chris clerked for the Honorable Mary Mullarkey, the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. Chris began his practice at Hutchinson Black and Cook the following year and has now been with the firm for 24 years.
Over the course of his career, Chris has handled cases involving serious personal injuries, civil rights, and complex commercial matters. He regularly teaches for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Chris has also been actively involved in his community. He was a trustee of the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado for six years, then became Vice-Chair and the Chairperson of the Foundation. For over 14 years, he has co-chaired the local Boulder campaign for the Foundation, which raises money for civil legal services for low-income people.
Chris has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Colorado Super Lawyers® for multiple years in his law career. He was also named 2023 and 2017 Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs "Lawyer of the Year" for Boulder by Best Lawyers®.
Chris's practice has included litigating cases in numerous state courts throughout Colorado and the federal District Court of Colorado. He has also arbitrated complex commercial cases through the American Arbitration Association. Chris has been consistently rated AV by Martindale Hubbell.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his sons and running on Boulder's trails. He has run several full and half marathons, including in London and Berlin. Chris spent his first sabbatical in southern Spain and traveling throughout Europe.
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Individual Counsel. Chris has represented individuals in a wide variety of cases. Chris has represented family members in wrongful death cases, plaintiffs in civil rights matters (including Title IX), and individuals who have suffered from injuries in variety of contexts, including motor vehicles, premises liability, and professional negligence. Over the course of his career, Chris has successfully handled both small and large personal-injury cases in the significant seven-figure range.
Commercial Disputes. Chris has also represented companies and individuals who need counsel for various commercial matters. He has litigated disputes relating to commercial leases, purchase agreements, development and construction, real estate, employment and intellectual property.
Education
Harvard University, J.D., cum laude, 1997
Texas Christian University, B.S., summa cum laude, 1990
Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions/ Clerkships
Colorado, 1997
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 1998
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1999
Law Clerk, Honorable Mary J. Mullarkey, 1997-98; Colorado Supreme Court
Memberships / Awards
American Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
Boulder County Bar Association
Chairperson, Board of Trustees of The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, 2015-2017
Best Lawyers in America
Selected for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, 2013-2020
Selected as 2017 Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury - Plaintiffs, Boulder Area
Lawyer of the Year 2022
Colorado Super Lawyers
Selected for Personal Injury - Plaintiffs, 2013-2022, 2024
In the Media
